Most sports drinks that help rehydrate the body are _________ relative to your body's cells.

The correct answer is that most sports drinks that help rehydrate the body are isotonic relative to your body's cells. Isotonic solutions have a similar concentration of solutes (such as electrolytes and sugars) as the fluids found in your body's cells. This balance is crucial for effective rehydration because it allows for the quick absorption of fluids without causing significant shifts in water between the intracellular and extracellular compartments.

When consumed, isotonic sports drinks quickly replenish the electrolytes and fluids lost during physical activity, helping maintain cellular function and overall hydration status. This is particularly beneficial during intense exercise when hydration needs rapidly increase.

In contrast to isotonic solutions, hypotonic solutions would have a lower concentration of solutes compared to body cells, which could lead to water moving into the cells, potentially causing them to swell. Hypertonic solutions have a higher concentration of solutes, which can result in water leaving the cells, leading to dehydration at the cellular level. Hemolytic describes the process of breaking down red blood cells, which is not relevant in the context of rehydrating with sports drinks. Therefore, isotonic is the best description of the type of sports drinks that effectively support hydration.